Few people relate to Soy Andina better than Hillmer Reyes.
Like our title character Nelida, Hillmer was raised in Ancash, Peru. He emigrated to Connecticut at 15 and went on to study physics at Amherst and become a hi-tech technology consultant. He also helped start APAPRO, a Peruvian professional organization in Connecticut (savvy readers may recall the fundraiser APAPRO hosted for the movie in 2004).
And like the characters of our story, Hillmer has returned to Peru. Armed with a new Masters in Public Administration degree from Harvard, Hilmer is again a man on an entrepreneurial mission - this time, to launch a Peruvian chapter of GEN (Global Entrepreneurial Network), a worldwide organization founded by Harvard Business School alumni.
The idea is to support local entrepreneurs through speaker series and workshops, conferences, mentoring, consulting - and to kick things off, a business plan competition with cash prizes and connections to potential investors.
Hillmer and his team are seeking:
- Corporate sponsors for the business plan competition
- Volunteers to judge the business plans
- Volunteers to speak at events as industry experts
- Board members to help fundraise and advise
Want to hear more? Contact him at hreyes@post.harvard.edu
I'd like to see this succeed and hope Soy Andina can help promote it. More news to follow.
Here's Hillmer in action, networking at a social event, looking like a man who enjoys his work! (And who's that pretty woman he's with....?)
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This Wednesday, Nov 30, join us at Pio Pio in Queens, NY — the legendary Peruvian restaurant where Nelida and Cynthia first met.
Directions for Pio Pio here. We'll gather around 8 pm. Their number (718) 426-1010. I know it's only two days notice but, hey, that's long-term planning for Peruvian events.
